Comments | missapocalyptic: Thoughts on Mary Sues

missapocalyptic

Thoughts on Mary Sues

Jul 16, 2007 14:19

I missed the big Mary Sue party that took place on Metafandom a while ago - I'll just say this is a response to the ongoing gender debate, so I don't look completely behind of everyone else - mostly because I didn't know how to express my thoughts on the subjects. It was like I had a point to make, but hadn't quite figured out what this point ( Read more... )

Comments 6

(The comment has been removed)

missapocalyptic July 16 2007, 15:57:38 UTC

Uhm... yes? Ah, I'm a complete Buffy-ignorant, so I'll just have to trust you with what you're saying.

Thanks for reading.

dragonflymuse July 16 2007, 17:48:39 UTC

I apologize for replying while in a caffeine deficit, and not being quite on topic either. I must remind myself not to reply to thoughtful posts until well into the afternoon hours.

::deletes incoherent ramblings::

missapocalyptic July 16 2007, 18:54:19 UTC

*rofl* You could just have explained the Joss-thing to me... introduced me to the inner workings of your mind. And yay for caffeine.

catwalksalone July 16 2007, 15:10:07 UTC

Oh, I like this. And I agree with you. Because what's the point of the theory that 'Mary Sues are women who get to have it all' when the only 'all' available is conformity to media mores? If the whole impetus between (especially younger) writers putting Mary Sues into their fic is as wish fulfillment, then that makes me sad, because they are wishing to be perfect in every way that they feel they are expected to be. OK, the violet eyes and silver hair are meant to make them stand out, but only in a supermodel kind of way.

I don't think it's lowering expectations of women and their abilities to have an ordinary woman in a fic doing extraordinary things. In fact, it's way more of an achievement if a slightly overweight, self-deprecating, messy, disliked by her boss and confused about her sexuality woman manages to save the cheerleader, save the world and get the guy/girl and get the thanks of a grateful nation and has some hot sex and gets promoted and gets a pony. Ten ponies. Fifteen. Because what message are Mary Sues giving - you ( ... )

missapocalyptic July 16 2007, 16:04:31 UTC

If the whole impetus between (especially younger) writers putting Mary Sues into their fic is as wish fulfillment, then that makes me sad, because they are wishing to be perfect in every way that they feel they are expected to be.

I was searching my brain for this sentence while I was writing this the whole time. And you found it. Thanks. ;)

And yay for the OFC you just decided to write there... *g*

snarkyducky July 16 2007, 19:49:28 UTC

thank you for sharing this intelligent analysis!
i've never put enough time and thought to this topic, but have always felt that the reason those canon female characters are criticized as MarySues is largely related to the fact that they're almost always written by male writers..

in fact, i look forward to the day a female version of HouseMD can get the same popularity and ratings the current male version does.